Headlight-shifting apparatus



Sept 1, 1925.

D. BAUGHMAN HEADLIGHT SHIFTING APPARATUS Filed A112. 22, 1924 PatentedSept. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEADLIGHT-SHIFTING APPARATUS.

Application filed August 22, 1924. Serial No. 733,530.

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID BAUGHMAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHeadlight- Shifting Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification. i

This invention relates to a headlight shifting apparatus for motorvehicles, and the primary object thereof is to provide a device of'theclass stated, in a manner as herein after set forth, which is operablyconnected to the steering mechanism of the motor vehicle toautomatically shift the vehicle headlights to correspond to the steeringmovement of the front wheels of the vehicle, under such conditionsprojecting the rays of light from the headlights in alignment with thefront wheels of the veliicle,whereby the direct path of travel will'beclearly visible to the operator of the vehicle at all times andconsequently minimizing accidents attending motor vehicle operations atnight.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a headlight shiftingapparatus, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong,durable and eflicient in its use, compact, which may be installed to anytype of motor vehicle, and which is comparatively inexpensive tomanufacture and install.

With the foregoingand other objects in view which will appear, as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatchanges in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed canbe made within the scope of the claims hereunto appended withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing forming. a portion of this specification and wherein likenumerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views 1- Figure 1 is a side view of a headlight shiftingapparatus in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a front view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged rear view of the compensating link and guideplate.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the guide plate.

Referring in detail to the drawingl denotes a motor vehicle headlight ofthe usual construction and mounted on a horizontally disposed supportingbar 2 which latter is provided with angularly disposed end portions 3 bywhich the supporting bar 2 is adapted to be rigidly secured to the mudguards or fenders of the motor vehicle.

The headlight 1 is formed on its lower end with a depending neck 4 andis shiftably mounted on the supporting bar 2 by neans of the operatinglever 5. The latter is substantially L-shaped consisting of a verticallydisposed leg 6 and a rearwardly projecting horizontally disposed leg 7.The upper e'ndof the vertical leg 6 extends through an aperture 8 in thesupporting bar 2 and is fixed in the depending neck 4 of the headlightby a pin 9. v

The vertical leg 6,. of the operating lever 5, is rotatably mounted inthe aperture 8 of the supporting bar 2, and a washer 10 is p0- sitionedbetween the lower face of the neck 4 and the, upper face of thesupporting bar 2. The vertical leg 6 is adjusted for rotation in theaperture 8 and is locked against vertical movement therein, by means ofa pair of nuts 11, which engage the threaded portion 12 of the verticalleg 6. A Washer 13 is interposed between the lower face of thesupporting bar 2 and the nuts 11.

Thehorizontal-leg 7 is formed with a reduced rear portion 14, having athreaded end 15 carrying a nut 16. A compensating link 17 is slidablymounted on the reduced portion 14 and is provided with a flat underface18 and a depending stem 19 disposed centrally of the underface 18.

A vertically disposed actuating arm 20 I I I consisting of a pair ofspaced members 21 is fixedly secured to the parallel rod 20 which latterconnects with steering knuckles of the motor vehicle. The free ends ofthe spaced members 21 engage respective sides of the parallel rod 30,and are securely clamped to the latter by means of the bolts 22, asclearly shown in Figure 1, of the drawing.

The upper ends of the spaced member 21 are joined together to provide aflat top 23 which abuts against the fiat underface 18 of the link 17during the operation of the apparatus. The top 23 is formed with acentrally disposed aperture for the reception of the link stem 18 whichextends downwardly between the spaced members 21. The lowerend of thelink stem 18 carries a slidably mounted guide plate 24. The latter isformed, with centrally dlfiPOSfidHWPGItIlIB 25, through which-the stem18 extends: The

lower end of the stem 18 is formed with anaperture 26, in 'wh'ichn apcotheii Pin- 2751181,

placed for maintaining the guide block 2 1 on the stem 18. The guide;block'24i lis'provided with a pair of recesses 28 formedin opposed sideedges thereof 'Ijherecesses 28 providea noiseless tensionedconne'ctionhoii the, associated parts;

lVhen installing the shiftingapparatus to a vehicle,th e relativeposition of the link 17 to the actuatinf-garm ZO is'suchthataboutone-halt of the stein 18 will normally project abovethe top 23, 'ofthearm 20, thereby permitting of the" vertical movement. of the stem 18 inthe arm-20,130 compensate forthe usual vibration of the vehicleduringitsope, erat-ion. 4 The sliding connection ofthe link 17;'on thereduced lever'portion 1'6' and, itsypivotal connection with theactiiatinggarm 20 and guide platefQl, will allow for-the, free shiftingof the operatinglever 5 in any direction without setting upany'bindinggaction of'the associated parts,

hat Icl'aim is; I V 1. In combination witha headliglihsup porting membertherefor, and" the parallel rod'ofthe steering mechanismof amotor'vehicle', operating lever-pivot'ally mounted insaid supportingmember and fixedly secured to said headlight, an actuating arm rigidly,attachedi to; said" parallel rod, and a link including a stem slidablyconnected vwith saidlever-,-said stem extending into said arm andresiliently connected therewith.

ai -In combination, with a headlight, support therefor, and the parallelrod of the steering mechanism of a-niotor vehicle, a substantiallyL-shaped operating lever consisting of a vertical legan'd ahorizontal'leg, the upper end of said vertical leg pivotally mounted" insaid support and fixedly connectedto said headlight, said horizontal legformed withfa reduced portion at. the rear endthereof, a verticallydisposed actuating arm consistingof a pair' of spaced arm membersrigidly clamped at its loweii end to said parallel" rod, a linkslida'bly mounted. for horizontal movement onthe said reduced portion ofsaidlhorizonta'l leg, said link carrying" a: depending stem. pivotallyengaging the top of said arm and extending between said spaced varmmembers, a" gui de plate slidably mounted for vertical movement betweensaid spaced arm members and rotatably supported on thelow'er endiof saidstennand a resilient member mounted on said stem'and interposed" betweenthe top of said actuating. arm and the said guide plate, substantiallyas described and for the purpose set forth.

Intestimony whereof I'I'afliX my signature.

DAVID BAUGHMAN;

